Control apparatus for the starter motor for an automobile engine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for starting the engine of an automotive vehicle and only permitting the reengagement of the starter after interrupting the ignition and/or the feed of an injection pump associated with a switch provided with at least three successive positions inclusive of stop, ignition on and start positions, and opposing a second movement towards start position without first going towards the stop position. The apparatus comprises a turnable plate having an axis of rotation and adapted for controlling the operation of the switch of the starter circuit, the turnable plate having a circumferential groove therein extending substantially concentrically with respect to its axis. A stator faces the plate and has a blind bore therein in which a guide member is supported for free slidable and rotatable movement. An eccentric pin is secured to the guide member and extends therefrom into the groove. The groove has a widened terminal zone with three levels thereat, and the pin is engaged in the groove at the highest level in the stop position which is remote from the terminal zone. The pin travels at the highest level from one end of the groove to the other as the plate is rotated and passes successively from the stop position, to the ignition position and then to the start position. The plate then rotates in opposite direction whereupon the pin descends to the lowest level at a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;running&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position where the ignition remains on. A shoulder is provided between the lowest and middle levels to prevent return rotation of the plate from the lowest level to the middle level and hence direct return to the start position. The plate is turnable further in this opposite direction towards the stop position whereupon the ignition is cut and the pin rides onto the highest level of the groove so that the plate can new be returned to the start position.

United States Patent [191 Thirion Nov. 25, 1975 CONTROL APPARATUS FORTHE STARTER MOTOR FOR AN AUTOMOBILE ENGINE [76] Inventor: Andr Thirion,16, rue d'Arsonval,

Dijon, Cote dOr, France [22] Filed: July 31, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:493,727

[52] U.S. Cl. 123/179 BG; 123/179 R; 290/37 R; 290/DIG. 1

[51] Int. Cl. F02N 17/00 [58] Field of Search 123/179 BO, 179 K, 179 R;290/37 R, 38 R, 38 D, DIG. l

Primary ExaminerWendell E. Burns Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Haseltine,Lake & Waters [5 ABSTRACT Apparatus for starting the engine of anautomotive vehicle and only permitting the reengagement of the starterafter interrupting the ignition and/or the feed of an injection pumpassociated with a switch provided with at least three successivepositions inclusive of stop, ignition on and start positions, andopposing a second movement towards start position without first goingtowards the stop position. The apparatus comprises a turnable platehaving an axis of rotation and adapted for controlling the operation ofthe switch of the starter circuit, the turnable plate having acircumferential groove therein extending substantially concentricallywith respect to its axis. A stator faces the plate and has a blind boretherein in which a guide member is supported for free slidable androtatable movement. An eccentric pin is secured to the guide member andextends therefrom into the groove. The groove has a widened terminalzone with three levels thereat, and the pin is engaged in the groove atthe highest level in the stop position which is remote from the terminalzone. The pin travels at the highest level from one end of the groove tothe other as the plate is rotated and passes successively from the stopposition, to the ignition position and then to the start position. Theplate then rotates in opposite direction whereupon the pin descends tothe lowest level at a running position where the ignition remains on. Ashoulder is provided between the lowest and middle levels to preventreturn rotation of the plate from the lowest level to the middle leveland hence direct return to the stait position. The plate is turnablefurther in this opposite direction towards the stop position whereuponthe ignition is cut and the pin rides onto the highest level of thegroove so that the plate can new be returned to the start position.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet10f4 3,921,613

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,921,613

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet3of4 3,921,613

I II

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet4 of4 3,921,613

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR THE STARTER MOTOR FOR AN AUTOMOBILE ENGINE FIELDOF THE INV N ION The present invention relates to apparatus for startingthe engine of a vehicle and only permitting the reengagement of thestarter after cutting the ignition or the feed of the injection pump.

PRIOR ART In electric apparatus mounted on automobile vehicles, it isknown to employ a switch element (associated or not with an anti-theftdevice) for permitting a conductor after leaving a stop position torealize successively the positions offignition (or actuation of theinjection pump) running, starting by momentary closure of a specialcircuit.

A recall spring returns the switch element from the starting position tothe running position whereat the ignition remains on. If the enginedoes. not start readily, the conductor has the tendency to return the,switch to the starting positionwhich can produce undesirableinterference between the teeth of the drive gear of the engine and thepinion of the starter.

To avoid this inconvenience, numerous mechanical and electronic deviceshave been developed in order to require the conductor to effect a newmovement for starting viz. coming back rearwardly from the runningposition and cutting all feed to said engine and thus effectivelystopping it.

The known apparatus has the serious disadvantage that it is complicatedand does not always insure great reliability of operation. I i

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to providesimplified apparatus which avoids the above-noted disadvantages whilepermitting it to operate with all types of switches (with or without amechanical anti-theft device This apparatus can be connected at anypoint in themechanical transmission of a manipulation key or button,either with the electrical switch or with the mechanical anti-theftdevice without modifying the internal structure of these particulardevices.

According to a first characteristic feature of the invention, theapparatus comprises in the mechanical transmission of the starterbutton, a turnable plate provided with a groove therein in the form of asector forming a cam groove for receiving an eccentric pin fixed to apush guide received in a stator, said push guide being axially rotatableand/or freely slidable in the stator and accommodating itself to thegroove in the plate and the direction of displacement of the plate tomeet an abutment, or a ramp to require the switch to return from therunning position to the stop position before attempting a new startingmanipulation.

This apparatus has no effect whatsoever on the other apparatus activatedby the rotor, particularly the automatic return to the running positionfrom the start position as soon as the ignition key or the switch buttonis released.

The invention therefore contemplates two essential elements; namely theplate and the pin of the push guide, and the elastic means acting on thepin to press the same into the cam groove formed in the plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diametral cross-section ofthe apparatus according to the invention in the stop position, and forpurposes of clarity the switch and/or the anti-theft blocking mechanismto which it is attached are not shown;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III in FIG. 2

= FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV in DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to the apparatus of FIG. 1, therein is seen a stator 1 havinga longitudinal blind bore 2 which is eccentrically located in thestator. A push guide 3 is freely supported in bore 2 for slidable androtatable movement therein. The push guide has a fixed, eccentric pin 4at its exterior face. A spring 5 is mounted in the bore 2 and acts onthe push guide 3 to urge the same outwardly from the bore.

A turnable plate 6 is coaxially disposed with respect to the stator land has a groove 8 in the surface facing the stator. The groove 8extends circumferentially in the plate 6 and is formed as asemi-circular sector serving as a guideway for the pin 4 in the fashionof a cam groove. The groove 8 has a variable profile as evident from thesectional views in FIGS. 3 and 4. The groove 8 is formed, at thebeginning of its profile, as a concentric circle at a radius to receivethe pin 4.

The groove Sis not of the same depth and width over its entire length.At the beginning of its length, the bottom of groove 8 corresponds tothe stop position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and permits abutmentover its entire depth of pin 4 along portion 8a extending substantiallyover one quadrant i.e. an arc of The portion 8a is of constant depth andwidth and at section line III in FIG. 2, the profile of the bottom ofthe groove forms two transverse concentric zones, the outermost of whichextends about 90, while the inner descends via a ramp to a maximum depthat 8c which is bounded by a rounded shoulder a. A portion 8b extends incontinuation of 8c and has a depth intermediate the maximum depth at 8cand the depth of 8a.

The operation of the described apparatus is as follows:

In the stop position of FIGS. 1 and 2, the pin 4 engages portion 8a ofgroove 8. When plate 6 is turned clockwise during an engine startingoperation, as for example, by turning the ignition key, the pin 4situates itself ahead of the axis of the push guide 3 while remainingexternally disposed. The friction resulting from the pressure of thepush guide 3 on its guideway tends to return to pin 4 towards the rearby pivoting around the axis of the push guide 3. The pin 4 is thereforethrust towards the lateral external wall 9 of the groove 8 which forms astop and whose radius is less than the radius corresponding to themaximum eccentric position of the pin 4. It follows that after eachrotation in one direction of the other of the plate 6, the pin 4 engagesand slides in the portion 8a of the groove 8.

Driven by wall 9 and following portion 8a, the pin 4 reaches theignition on or energization position (immediately before the angularposition in FIG. 8) and continues to the extreme position in FIGS. 5 and6, which corresponds to the starting position. At this moment, theextremity of pin 4 is engaged at the intermediate depth 8b.

When starting of the engine has been effected, an elastic means (notshown) acts on plate 6 to bring the plate 6 in reverse direction ofrotation i.e. counter clockwise, to the running position (in whichignition remains on or the feed of the injection pump continues).Thereby, the pin 4 lodged in portion 8b comes into contact with lateralramp 10 which orients it and engages it in the deepest portion 8c at thetime when the running position is reached. This is shown in FIGS. 7 and8.

It is seen that if, from this position, it is attempted to return to thestart position, the end of pin 4 abuts shoulder a to prevent suchundesirable action.

To return to the start position, it is necessary to return to anintermediate position between running and stop by turning plate 6 sothat pin 4 travels towards the initial stop position without necessarilyattaining it, before again rotating the plate in clockwise direction.This operation cuts the ignition and thanks to the ramp 8d and 11 servesto return the pin 4 to its raised position in order to orient the same(in the course of the aforesaid movement of the plate) towards the wall9 where it will remain until it passes the ignition on position beforefalling to the bottom of portion 8!) which corresponds to start.

Thus, any return to start position is rendered impossible if one has notpreviously cut the ignition by a return towards the stop position ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment nor thespecific utilization disclosed therefore but includes all variations andmodification thereof within the bounds of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. Apparatus for starting the engine of an automotive vehicle and onlypermitting the reengagement of the starter after interrupting theignition and/or the feed of an injection pump associated with a switchprovided with at least three successive positions inclusive of stop,ignition on, and start positions, the apparatus opposing a secondmovement to the start positions, without first going towards the stopposition, said apparatus comprising a turnable plate having an axis ofrotation for controlling the operation of the starter circuit of anautomotive vehicle, said turnable plate having a circumferential groovetherein extending substantially concentrically with respect to saidaxis, a stator facing said plate and having a blind bore therein, aguide member supported in said bore for free slidable and rotatablemovement therein, an eccentric pin secured to said guide member andextending therefrom into said groove, said groove having a widenedterminal zone with three levels thereat, said groove being at thehighest level outside said terminal zone, said pin being engaged in thegroove at the highest level in teh stop position which is remote fromsaid terminal zone, said pin traveling at said highest level from oneend of the groove to the other as the plate is rotated and passingsuccessively from the stop position, to the ignition on position andthen to the start position, said plate then returning in oppositedirection to an intermediate angular running position in which theignition remains on and said pin descends to the lowest level, saidgroove having a shoulder between the lowest and middle levels to engagesaid pin and prevent return rotation of the plate directly from therunning position to the start position, said plate being turnablefurther in said opposite direction from said running position towardssaid stop position whereupon the ignition is cut and said pin rides ontothe highest level of the groove so that the plate can now be returned tothe start position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said groove has a rampportion between said lowest level and the highest level.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising elastic means acting onsaid guide member to urge the pin outwardly from said blind bore.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent: No. 5, D td November 5, 975

1nventol-(s) Andre Thirion It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected'as shown below:

On the Cover Sheet, the following should be added:

Signed and Sealed this twentieth Day of April1976 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmissium'r nj'larenlsand Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 9 9219615 Dated November 1975 I Andre Thirion It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the Cover Sheet, the following should be added:

Foreign Application Priority Data August 5, 1975 France 75.29082 Signedand Salcd this twentieth Day Of April1976 [SEAL] A trest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Altesling ()jfiver (unmzissimu'rnflarenls and Trademarks

1. Apparatus for starting the engine of an automotive vehicle and onlypermitting the reengagement of the starter after interrupting theignition and/or the feed of an injection pump associated with a switchprovided with at least three successive positions inclusive of stop,ignition on, and start positions, the apparatus opposing a secondmovement to the start positions, without first going towards the stopposition, said apparatus comprising a turnable plate having an axis ofrotation for controlling the operation of the starter circuit of anautomotive vehicle, said turnable plate having a circumferential groovetherein extending substantially concentrically with respect to saidaxis, a stator facing said plate and having a blind bore therein, aguide member supported in said bore for free slidable and rotatablemovement therein, an eccentric pin secured to said guide member andextending therefrom into said groove, said groove having a widenedterminal zone with three levels thereat, said groove being at thehighest level outside said terminal zone, said pin Being engaged in thegroove at the highest level in teh stop position which is remote fromsaid terminal zone, said pin traveling at said highest level from oneend of the groove to the other as the plate is rotated and passingsuccessively from the stop position, to the ignition on position andthen to the start position, said plate then returning in oppositedirection to an intermediate angular running position in which theignition remains on and said pin descends to the lowest level, saidgroove having a shoulder between the lowest and middle levels to engagesaid pin and prevent return rotation of the plate directly from therunning position to the start position, said plate being turnablefurther in said opposite direction from said running position towardssaid stop position whereupon the ignition is cut and said pin rides ontothe highest level of the groove so that the plate can now be returned tothe start position.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidgroove has a ramp portion between said lowest level and the highestlevel.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising elastic meansacting on said guide member to urge the pin outwardly from said blindbore.